In the early morning after the spring rain, the light of dawn shone through the thin clouds, covering the human world with a warm golden veil.
The madam in the courtyard was wearing rough clothes. Her back was facing An Le and Huang Xian, who were at the entrance of the courtyard. She was trimming the flowers and potted plants. The flowers and plants that had been baptized by the spring rain had become even more beautiful and alluring. Together with the woman, they were enveloped in the golden veil of the morning sun, making them look a little peaceful.
An Le's gaze was involuntarily attracted by this woman.
It was not because of the woman's beauty, nor was it because the woman's rough clothes could not hide her proud figure.
Instead, it was because there were strands of Age Qi on the woman's body that rose in spirals and coiled endlessly!
Counting carefully, there were more than 20 wisps!
What did that mean?
Miss Zhuifeng of Lin Mansion and Fairy Yun Rou on the flower boat only had a dozen wisps of Age Qi, but this woman in Imperial Ancestral Temple Alley had more than twenty wisps!
Apart from that, An Le also felt that something was different. The Age Qi was different.
The woman's Age Qi was not only gray, but on the surface of the qi currents, there seemed to be a layer of deep black. It was extremely strange.
It was like… demon qi!
An Le's gaze froze.
Demon?
In this world, other than cultivators, there were also some living beings that were born from the spirits of heaven and earth. They were called demons.
Legend had it that demons had existed since ancient times. There were evil demons who slaughtered living beings, and there were good demons who repaid kindness…
Closer, it was said that there was a thousand-year-old snake demon at the bottom of the West Lake.
An Le did not expect that the woman in front of him, who lived in an alley so close to the Great Zhao Imperial Ancestral Temple, could be a demon.
Huang Xian did not notice the woman's abnormality. The difference in cultivation made him feel that this woman was an ordinary person.
An Le remained calm and followed Huang Xian into the courtyard.
This courtyard was not a two-sided courtyard. It was just an ordinary one-sided courtyard, but it was enough for An Le. The main reason was that the courtyard was big enough to be used when practicing the Five Animals Technique.
Seeing that someone was coming, the woman stopped what she was doing and turned around slowly.
The woman's appearance was not considered beautiful, but when paired with her impressive figure, she had a different charm.
"Sister-in-law, this is Young Master An. He needs to buy a courtyard to live in, so I introduced him to you."
Huang Xian smiled when he saw the woman.
The woman glanced at An Le. Such a handsome man stunned her for a moment before she bowed and greeted him.
An Le bowed in return.
"Young Master An, this… this courtyard will be sold for 600 taels. Will Young Master accept it?"
The woman smiled gently.
An Le observed the courtyard that had been cleaned up and placed with potted plants that made one feel relaxed and happy. He smiled lightly and nodded without bargaining. "Sure."
Then, An Le took out the money bag and took out two Origin Spirit Coins.
"Two Origin Spirit Coins are exactly 600 taels. Madam, keep it well."
An Le handed the coins to the woman.
The gentle woman took the coins, then took the house deed and An Le. She bowed and said, "Young Master An, this courtyard belongs to you now. The flowers and plants in the courtyard are carefully nurtured by me. They are also living beings of heaven and earth. They have life. I hope you can take good care of them."
An Le smiled and returned the greeting. "Don't worry, Madam. When I'm practicing martial arts, I'll definitely move the flowers and potted plants away."
When the woman heard this, she smiled at An Le.
Huang Xian was in a good mood when he saw that the transaction had been completed. To be honest, the opening of the courtyard at 600 taels of silver was a little low. If it was sold at the brokerage, it would definitely not be sold at such a price.
Huang Xian only hoped that this orphan and widow could earn more money and live a good life after leaving Lin'an.
"Sister-in-law, after leaving Lin'an, be careful. The world is not peaceful."
Huang Xian looked at the woman and instructed.
The woman nodded. "After I send Nannan back to her family, I'll visit Lin'an again…"
Huang Xian was stunned.
"Constable Huang should know that there's something fishy about my husband's death… Someone wanted him dead. After returning to the capital, I have to seek justice." The woman lowered her head, her long hair falling as she muttered softly.
Huang Xian was speechless for a moment. He felt as if there was a huge rock blocking his throat.
Listening to their conversation, An Le also sensed that there was something else going on, but it was inconvenient for him to ask. With a thought, he absorbed two wisps of Age Qi from the woman.
Constable Huang only had two wisps of Age Qi on him. Now that he had finished absorbing them, An Le could no longer absorb anything.
Two wisps of Age Qi entered his light screen. An Le couldn't help but be delighted because… he discovered that there was a wisp of Molten Gold Age Qi that could gather the Dao Fruit!
In the house, a little girl with pigtails ran out. She seemed to be afraid of strangers and hid behind the woman timidly. The woman took the luggage bag that she had already prepared and nodded at An Le.
"Young Master An, thank you for your generosity."
The woman replied like she did not realize that she had just been taken advantage of.
She also knew that this small courtyard could not be sold for 600 taels at all. It was because An Le saw that the mother and daughter were pitiful, so he generously gave her money. She really needed silver taels, and she would remember this kindness.
"Madam, you don't have to thank me. This is a deal. It's consensual. I wish you a safe journey."
An Le smiled.
The woman took a deep look at An Le. This Young Master An's eyes… Did he see something?
However, the woman did not probe further. She carried her luggage with the little girl and took one last look around the small courtyard that might have beautiful memories. She turned around and left, hiding among the crowd on Qingbo Street and the morning mist.
"Sigh." Huang Xian sighed.
"Constable Huang, is there another story behind this?" An Le asked. "If it's inconvenient, you don't have to tell me."
Huang Xian shook his head. "It's not inconvenient. It's just the dirty darkness hidden under the prosperity of Lin'an Prefecture. Someone is using power to suppress and bully others."
"There are so many benefactors in Lin'an Mansion. Benefactors have many special privileges when they do things. Some benefactors rely on their special privileges to do whatever they want. It's annoying to say too much."
"Although the Black Office manages cultivators, some benefactors can't be managed and we don't dare to touch them."
Huang Xian was not in a good mood. After saying a few simple words, he bade farewell to An Le. "Young Master An, congratulations on moving to a new residence. I have to go and handle a case now. With Young Master An's painting in hand, this suspect will definitely not be able to escape."
"After I get off work, I'll bring a pot of aged yellow wine and drink it with Young Master An."
An Le bowed in return.
Huang Xian carried a saber at his waist and looked in the direction where the woman and her daughter had left. He sighed again and seemed to have aged a little. His back bent slightly as he walked away.
An Le closed the courtyard door and placed the backpack in the house. The courtyard was very clean. Although the madam was a demon, she lived like an ordinary woman.
Huang Xian did not explain the matter of the woman clearly, so An Le did not think too much about it.
With a thought, the wisp of Molten Gold Age Qi that had absorbed the woman's faint flirtatious aura began to turn into golden incense sticks that slowly burned.
...
The moonlight was like water, pouring down on the world.
Deep in the mountains, there were old trees.
There was a tree with intertwined roots growing on an old pine tree on a rock. There was a squirrel sitting cross-legged on a branch.
Under the moonlight, the squirrel bathed, its fluffy tail wagging slightly.
Vaguely, there seemed to be moonlight essence pervading the air. It was being absorbed bit by bit by the squirrel, causing demon qi to glow.
Absorbing the essence of the sun and moon and experiencing the baptism of heaven and earth was the evolution of a demon.
Vigorous demon qi grew, like a black fog that lingered around the squirrel. Gradually, the demon qi expanded, like a huge pine cone.
After a long time, the demon qi began to slowly dissipate. Within the black demon qi, a long leg as white as jade slowly stretched out. Under the cold moonlight, it was dazzlingly white.
...
The scene gradually dissipated, and An Le's mind returned. The Molten Gold Age Qi absorbed from the woman actually showed the process of the demon's transformation.
It did catch An Le off guard.
The woman was actually a female squirrel demon. After transforming, it was unknown why she married someone else. There might be many stories behind this.
However, An Le did not know about these stories.
Blue words appeared on the screen in front of him.
[Obtained Age Dao Fruit: Demon Tempering Treasure Jade]
[Note: Demon Tempering Treasure Jade (Dao Fruit): The treasure jade draws demonic qi. It can draw the demon qi in the jade to help temper the body and strengthen the body like a demon. Carrying the treasure jade can weaken the influence of the demon qi.]
An Le took a deep breath and saw a demonic wind suddenly blow in the courtyard. The demon qi was like dark clouds, causing the flowers and grass to sway and dust to fly.
When the demonic wind and demon qi dissipated, a round pancake-shaped nine-patterned white jade with a tassel gently landed in his palm.
...
At the same time.
In the Imperial Ancestral Temple, a few kilometers away from the small courtyard.
A long-brow old man in plain clothes was splashing ink and painting on the table.
Suddenly, the old man stopped writing and turned to look at the courtyard in Imperial Ancestral Temple Alley. He smiled in surprise.
"A squirrel demon has just left, and now there's such a strong demon qi…"
"The demons dare to make a nest beside the Imperial Ancestral Temple. They're not taking me seriously."
The old man suspended his brush and pushed open the temple door with his hands behind his back.
He walked unhurriedly towards the small courtyard in the alley.